Khaberni - The Egyptian Meteorological Authority has issued an urgent warning of a severe weather front sweeping across most areas of Egypt from tomorrow, Wednesday, and continuing through Thursday.
The Authority warned of disturbances in weather conditions, which may include occasionally torrential and thunderous rains with possible hail in several northern provinces, and the potential for flash floods in certain areas.
The Authority predicts that the following provinces will experience heavy, thunderous rain: Matruh, Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahlia, Damietta, Port Said, Gharbia, Monufia, Sharqia, and possible flash floods in areas of Sinai and the northern part of the Red Sea Governorate, including intermittent periods in Suez and Aqaba Gulfs.
In a prompt precautionary measure, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education announced an emergency official holiday for all public, private, and Al-Azhar schools across the country on Wednesday and Thursday for students, teachers, and all staff, in an effort to ensure the safety of more than 25 million students.
The ministry clarified in its statement that the holiday came just one day after the end of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, aiming to protect students from adverse weather risks, and to ensure equal opportunities among all students nationwide.
Instabilities in weather during the spring are a recurring phenomenon in Egypt, due to low-pressure systems coming from the Mediterranean Sea, which cause heavy thunderstorms, wind activities, and a significant drop in temperatures.
In recent years, there have been similar emergency holidays for schools due to predictions of flash floods or heavy rains, especially in coastal and northern provinces.
The Ministry of Education relies on direct coordination with the Meteorological Authority and the Republic's governorates to make such precautionary decisions, primarily aimed at avoiding road accidents on slippery roads, poor visibility, or waterlogging, while ensuring that the educational process is not significantly disrupted by compensating for any lost school days later.
